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SWAT Team Nabs Emmaus Man in Hotel Standoff

Matthew Michael Lerch of 25 N. 3rd St., Emmaus, was arrested Monday night following a standoff in a Hanover Township hotel.

 

An Emmaus man was arrested last night following a six-hour standoff in which he barricaded himself in a hotel room in Hanover Township (Lehigh County), police said.

Matthew Michael Lerch, 39, who has several warrants for his arrest in Lehigh County, was registered as a guest in the Knights Hotel, according to state police at Bethlehem. When police arrived at the hotel about 1 p.m., Lerch barricaded himself in his room and refused to leave.

The third floor of the hotel was eventually evacuated, since police could not determine if Lerch had any weapons.

Police negotiators ultimately were able to convince Lerch to surrender about 6:30 p.m Monday. He was not armed, police said.

Lerch was taken to Lehigh County Prison. Lerch lives at 25 N. Third St. in Emmaus, according to police.

About this column: These reports are from Pennsylvania State Police. Related Topics: Arrest, Standoff, and pennsylvania state police

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